{{dayPoint.date | date : 'd MMMM yyyy'}}

{{newsPoint.title}}

{{newsPoint.title+ ' '}}

{{newsPoint.subtitle}}

Some 330 Russian nationals evacuated from Iran via Armenia since Middle East hostilities

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28

YEREVAN, March 28. /TASS/. Up to 330 Russian nationals have been evacuated from Iran via the national territory of Armenia since the eruption of armed hostilities in the Middle East, the Russian Embassy in Armenia said in a statement on Saturday.

"Since the beginning of the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, 327 Russian citizens have returned to Russia through Armenia," the statement reads.

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28. Major Iranian cities, including Tehran, were struck. The White House justified the attack by citing alleged missile and nuclear threats from Iran.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a retaliatory operation, targeting sites in Israel. US military bases in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were also hit. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and some other key Iranian leaders were killed in the joint US-Israeli attack.

Iran says destroyed US refueling aircraft at American base in Saudi Arabia

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28

Drone attack kills child in Russia’s Yaroslavl Region, governor says

His parents were taken to the hospital in serious condition

German officials lose zero sleep over Trump's criticism of them — spokesman

Some German politicians said earlier that Germany will stay away from the conflict in Iran

Up to Kiev to decide whether to concede Donbass, not US — Rubio

The secretary of state says the role of the US is to "try to figure out what both sides want" and see whether a compromise is possible

EU governments believe US ground op in Iran 'all but inevitable' — Bloomberg

The agency cited an unnamed Iranian official as saying that Tehran believes there is a high probability of a US operation to seize Kharg Island

AI-based anti-drone systems reduce effectiveness of Kiev’s drone strikes — expert

Andrey Marochko said that problems within the Ukrainian army can also be attributed to the enemy’s high percentage of defective, cheap products and low-quality components for unmanned aerial vehicles

Israel attacks heavy water plant in Iran’s Arak — IDF

Heavy water is a material used to operate nuclear reactors

Russian weapons more reliable than intricate NATO gear — Rosgvardiya general

According to Ruslan Garifullin, NATO military vehicles get stuck, especially when the roads become muddy

Top US, EU diplomats have ‘headed exchange’ over Ukraine settlement — media

According to its sources, Kallas criticized the US for not increasing pressure on Russia

Putin discusses crisis facing Russia-EU relations, Ukraine with Security Council

According to the Russian leader, Moscow has never refused to cultivate and restore these ties

Websites' traffic drops up to 90% after Amazon data center attacks, expert says

According to Viktor Nekrasov,the period of instability proved critical for many companies whose traffic relies on Google organic search for 70-90% of their volume

Some 330 Russian nationals evacuated from Iran via Armenia since Middle East hostilities

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28

US servicemen in Middle East relocated from damaged bases to hotels — NYT

Military sources indicated that this situation reflects a miscalculation on the part of the US administration about how Iran would respond

Russian lawmakers discuss Ukraine, strategic stability during visit to US

Vyacheslav Nikonov says that his US colleagues insist on the dependence of the bilateral relations on early settlement of the Ukrainian crisis

Iran to facilitate passage of humanitarian cargoes via Strait of Hormuz at UN request

Permanent Representative to the UN Geneva office Ali Bahreini says that all necessary arrangements will be finalized "in due course"

Russia to take countermeasures if Japan poses threats to Far East’s borders — diplomat

We continue closely monitoring the current situation and if Japan's further steps entail challenges and threats to Russia's Far Eastern borders, we will resort to adequate countermeasures to ensure that our defense capability is in no way affected, the Russian diplomat said in an interview with TASS

Since Feb 28, Israel received 8,000 tons of military equipment, ammunition — top brass

More than 200 aircraft and ships have arrived in Israel since the start of the operation

Pressing matters and socks with Trump’s image: Russian delegation’s visit to US

Preparations for the Russian delegation’s visit to US Congress were held in secret

Yulia Skripal puts her Moscow flat on sale, looks for new owner for her dog

Viktoria Skripal has come up with suggestions that after having her flat sold, Yulia will make a statement that she was not going to return to Russia

By attacking targets in Middle Eastern countries Iran uses right to self-defense — MFA

The territories of Muslim countries in the region are being exploited by the United States and the Zionist regime to carry out attacks against Iran, Abbas Araghchi noted

US attacks Iran on its own, now demands support from everyone — French defense ministry

According to Catherine Vautrin, France is taking a "defensive" position, seeking a diplomatic solution, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz

Russia-Azeri relations develop on solid foundation of common history — Putin

The Russian president said this also includes cultural heritage

Russian lawmaker warns against underestimating parliamentary delegation’s US visit

Vyacheslav Nikonov says that after a long break, the parliamentarians have relaunched a relations workgroup

Russian troops liberate four communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

Russian forces delivered six strikes by precision weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles on Ukraine’s military-industrial sector, fuel and energy, transport and aerodrome infrastructure, the ministry reported

Iran notifies of another strike on Bushehr nuke plant area — IAEA

No damage to the reactor or radiation release was reported

Russia develops new camouflage coating to protect EW systems from thermal imagers

According to the manufacturer, the outer layer of the camouflage blanket has a non-uniform texture, "which easily adapts to any type of terrain, blending in with the surrounding area."

Trump bored with military operation against Iran — MS Now

According to the source quoted by the TV channel, the US president "wants to declare victory and move on"

Russian oil companies confirm presence of sufficient inventories

According to Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, oil refining indicators are kept at the level of March 2025

US may change sanctions against Russian oil — Rubio

The US secretary of state says that the president did not express desire to lift any sanctions permanently

Air defenses down 155 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions last night — Defense Ministry

The drones were shot down over the Bryansk, Leningrad, Smolensk, Belgorod, Kursk, Pskov, Kaluga, Tver, Voronezh, Rostov, Ryazan, Oryol, Tula, Yaroslavl, Novgorod and Moscow regions, as well as over Crimea, the statement reads

Russian drone parts made in domestic factories — UAV technician

The serviceman emphasized that he wouldn’t call "advanced" the unmanned aerial vehicles’ assembly by Ukrainian troops

Opponents of Russia-US contacts aim to drag out Ukrainian military conflict — Dmitriev

A group of five Russian lawmakers is in the United States at the invitation of Anna Paulina Luna

Largest fuel price crisis in history is approaching — Russia’s envoy

Kirill Dmitriev stressed that rising oil prices were positive for Russia, and Europe would beg for supplies

Press review: US pressures Kiev on peace talks and EU keeps ban on Russian nuclear fuel

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, March 27th

Russia successfully tests swarm drone attack tactics, developer says

Three drones, each capable of carrying a warhead weighing up to 3 kilograms, operated independently to target and engage the simulated vehicle

All Russian FPV drones run on domestic firmware — UAV technician

According to the Russian serviceman, the Ukrainian armed forces use weaker firmware

Court in New York concludes second hearing in Maduro case

The central topic of the hearing was the issue of the US authorities’ obstruction of payment for Maduro’s and his wife Cilia Flores’ legal services by the Venezuelan government

North Korean leader’s visit to Russia still on agenda — diplomat

According to Andrey Rudenko, the dates will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels

Iran has not started new round of talks with US — ambassador to Zimbabwe

According to Amir Hossein Hosseini, Iran will bring this war to an end at a time of its own choosing, and only when the conditions it has set are fully met

Half of Dutch fishing fleet idle due to diesel price hike — Reuters

Other European countries also experience similar difficulties, the news agency said

US congressmen invited to come to Russia after Washington consulations end — Dmitriev

A group of five Russian deputies is in the United States at the invitation of Anna Paulina Luna

Staying in place suicidal for Patriot air defense crews in Middle East — US expert

Scott Ritter says that there is no defense against Iran's attacks

Russia points to nuclear safety threats from strikes near Bushehr plant in UN

The Russian delegation also cited data on casualties among civilians, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and attacks on educational institutions

At least 13 people killed, over 50 injured in US-Israeli attacks on Iran’s Kermanshah

The attacks targeted residential quarters in the city of Kermanshah and a neighborhood in the province’s eastern part

Trump says Cuba to be next US target

The US president did not elaborate on Washington's plans regarding the country

Russia beats Nicaragua in soccer friendly

This was the Russian national team's first match of 2026

Trade balance surplus, declined capital outflow support ruble — minister

According to Maxim Reshetnikov, the situation will be such unless the trade balance will be harmonized by something

Sales of Russian IT products exceed $61.25 bln after six years of growth — PM Mishustin

The Russian prime minister noted that technologies, including digital technologies, are today becoming the foundation of the development of states, and the emergence of such technologies requires a strong IT sector

US Air Force transport plane makes emergency landing in Turkey — dispatchers

A Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, which took off near the island of Kos, has sent a distress signal

Gulf nations increasingly frustrated with US over Iran war — agency

The countries are wary of becoming targets for attacks because of hosting American bases and fear that the US president would declare victory in spite of Iran keeping "some kind of control" over the Strait of Hormuz

US F-16 fighter jet emergency lands at airfield in west of Saudi Arabia — Tasnim

The fighter jet landed at a military airfield in the west of Saudi Arabia, the agency added

Lithuania cannot lift sanctions on Belarusian fertilizers unilaterally — lawmaker

Remigijus Motuzas said the position to renew sanctions against Minsk is decisive

Bank of Russia lowers dollar rate for coming weekend

The official yuan rate was set at 11.73 rubles, down seventeen kopecks

US warns allies of potential delays in Ukraine weapons shipments — media

Supplies can get disrupted in the coming months as the Pentagon wants to deploy the weapons to Iran

Russia invites EAEU countries to launch autonomous freight transport projects — PM

According to Mikhail Mishustin, this is necessary to improve the efficiency of the agricultural sector and to organize deliveries to remote and hard-to-reach areas

Lithuania finds challenging to pay for trucks parking in Belarus

According to a Lithuanian freight carriers association, about 1,470 Lithuanian trucks and trailers stood idle in Belarus by March 24

Japanese PM Takaichi preserves anti-Russian policy — senior Moscow diplomat

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko says that the bilateral relations "continue to decline"

Novak instructs to prepare draft decree on gasoline export ban

The measure is aimed at stabilizing prices and prioritizing domestic supplies

FACTBOX: History of Crimea’s reunification with Russia

A treaty on Crimea’s and Sevastopol’s accession to Russia was signed on March 18, 2014

EU openly backs Orban’s defeat in Hungarian parliamentary elections — Reuters

The EU official stated that if Orban stood in power, the EU would have to change the methods of work to bypass Hungary’s veto

Moscow to respond to Seoul in case of arms supplies to Kiev regime — diplomat

I hope that we won't be forced to resort to such steps, Rudenko added

Iranian strike on airbase in Saudi Arabia leaves 12 US troops wounded

According to sources cited by Reuters, 13 US soldiers have been killed and over 300 have sustained injuries since the start of the military operation

US aircraft drop anti-tank mines near Shiraz, Iran — WP

Experts believe these mines are intended to hinder mobile launchers from accessing the site

Russian MFA summons Czech ambassador over firebombing of Russian center in Prague

Moscow demands that the Czech side immediately investigate the attack on the Russian center in Prague

US temporarily removes top Iranian diplomat, parliament speaker from target list — media

The senior officials have been removed from the target list for up to four or five days as President of the US Donald Trump opens the door to high-level negotiations for ending the war, the newspaper said

Russian LazerBuzz anti-FPV drone laser system linked with radar

The system includes early detection, targeting, and engagement capabilities

Tehran rejects US claims of Iranian Navy being destroyed — ambassador

Amir Hossein Hosseini says that the US statements are a "part of a broader psychological and media campaign"

Russia, India discussing LNG, LPG supplies — source

Both sides expressed readiness to increase LNG supplies

Indian Defense Ministry says approves purchase of more Russian S-400 systems

The ministry did not specify the number of the systems it will buy

Rosatom spends huge amounts on tech sovereignty projects — CEO

Russia plans to develop a national uranium program in 2026, Alexey Likhachev noted

Russian Mi-171A3 helicopter certified in import-substituted configuration

The helicopter was certified for carriage of passengers and cargoes, instrument flights in challenging weather conditions, and takeoffs from and landings on elevated pads

Iran says destroyed US refueling aircraft at American base in Saudi Arabia

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28

Oil may rise to $200 per barrel if Iran conflict continues — Bloomberg

According to the report, the probability of such a scenario is estimated at 40%

Ukraine, Saudi Arabia sign defense cooperation agreement — Zelensky

Vladimir Zelensky arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday

Part of Iranian missile falls on complex housing TASS bureau in Israel

No casualties were reported

Iran University of Science and Technology comes under attack — agency

No casualties or damage have been reported so far

Russian POWs share experiences of medical torture in Ukraine

Maxim Grigoriev cited a number of testimonies where prisoners of war recounted how Ukrainian medical interns trained on them

Duma deputies temporarily relieved of sanctions before US visit — deputy

Mikhail Delyagin says that the goal of the deputies was to show that the sanctions "harm not so much Russia as the United States itself"

US tells allies ground op in Iran not imminent — Bloomberg

Sources cited by the news agency admit that US President Donald Trump could change his mind and order a ground invasion

Senior lawmaker sees US visit by Russian legislators as historic

Vyacheslav Nikonov added that this was "the first visit in a long time"

FACTBOX: Diplomatic efforts and negotiations on Ukraine

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict began almost immediately after the onset of Russia’s special military operation in late February 2022

Over 300 American soldiers wounded during operation against Iran — TV

According to the report, ten servicemen have received severe wounds

Member of Russian delegation sent to US explains why preparations for visit kept secret

Mikhail Delyagin added that the composition of the delegation was determined by the country’s leadership

Seligdar plans to produce about 9 tons of gold in 2026

The company also plans to produce from 7 to 9 metric tons of silver

Russia doing nothing that might impede US operation against Iran — Rubio

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier that Russia had provided no intelligence to Iran in its confrontations with the United States and Israel

Trade turnover between China, Russia down 6.9% in 2025 to $228 bln — customs

Russia's trade surplus with China over the past 12 months amounted to $21.49 bln, according to data provided by the service

Russian football chief Dyukov says outgoing year 2025 was success for national teams

This year, the Russian men’s national team played 10 friendly matches winning six of them, lost another one and finished three more in a draw

Russian authorities discuss possible gasoline export ban — sources

Measures to stabilize Russia’s fuel market will be discussed on Friday at a meeting between industry representatives and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak

Ukraine running out of money to fund its war machine — Bloomberg

Kiev currently has enough money to cover military spending until June

Iran expects EAEU countries to condemn US, Israeli aggression — ambassador to Kazakhstan

Ali Akbar Jokar stated that such open aggression not only violates all legal and international laws, including the UN Charter, but also threatens Iran’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity

Rostec supplies Russian military with UBIM 3-in-1 armored engineering vehicle

This vehicle will play a key role in penetrating enemy defenses and supporting offensive operations

Kremlin rejects claims of using CPC to pressure US

Dmitry Peskov stressed that Kiev continues efforts to disable the CPC and continues to engage in energy blackmail

Hezbollah aims to kill as many Israeli troops as possible — expert

As Hezbollah is well-versed in the terrain, it has the upper hand in carrying out ambush attacks, Lebanese General Hassan Juni noted

Russian tennis star Medvedev moves back into ATP Top-10

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz holds the top position

Israel, US attack Bushehr NPP area for third time — Atomic Energy Organization of Iran

There were no reports of casualties, damage or technical failures

Russian lawmakers discuss flights, visas, diplomatic property during US visit

Vyacheslav Nikonov admits that US sanctions on Russia are unlikely to be lifted quickly, some of them "will be simply impossible" to lift

Russia to roll out new spacecraft to replace Soyuz in 2028 — Roscosmos deputy CEO

Parachute tests are coming up soon, Sergey Krikalev said

US seeks control over Nord Stream, energy markets — Russian top diplomat

Sergey Lavrov noted that Moscow sees Washington’s desire to dominate global energy markets and its interest in controlling the Strait of Hormuz

Russian software sales reach nearly $30.63 bln in 2025 — PM Mishustin

Mikhail Mishustin noted that talented engineers, developers, and data analysts are the main capital of the IT sector, and it is thanks to them that Russia was able to accelerate the replacement of foreign solutions

Internet outage in Iran lasts nearly four weeks — NetBlocks

A graph indicates that access remains at 1% of normal levels

US loses initiative in conflict with Iran, ex-MI6 chief says

Alex Younger noted the successful decisions made by the Iranian leadership, such as the dispersal of military capabilities